Rat-trap.



W. & C. DUPLANTIS.

RAT TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.28. I9I4.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

CnLuMmA PLANQURAPI? 60,. wAsHlNuToN. D. c.

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VVILLARD DUPLANTIS AND CURTIS DUPLANTIS, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA..

RAT-TRAP.

Application filed December 28, 1914.

T0 all wiz/0m it may concern.'

Be it known that we, VVILLARD DUrLAN'rIs and CURTIS DUPLANTIS, citizens of the UnitedStates, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented new and useful Improvements inhRat-Traps, of which the following is a specification.

vice versa and for trapping the rats so that they may be subsequently destroyed; and it contemplates the provision of an app`a` ratusY for the purposes stated, which while simple and inexpensive in construction isV adapted to be readily positioned on acable and is calcula-ted to elfectually bar the passage of ratsalong a cable, to cause tlie'rats to fall from the cable, and to entrap the rats as they fall, this latter with a view to preventinga rat that is precipitated from the cable from swimming to the shore and in that way escaping.

The invention in all of its details willbe fully understood from the following description and claims when the same are read in connection with the drawings, accompaiiying and forming part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in .section showing an apparatus constructed in accordance with our invention and constituting the preferred einbodiment thereof. Fig. 2 is across section taken through the revoluble element of the appa-` ratus and the parts on which said element is mounted. Fig. 3 ,is a perspective of one of the hails through which a holder is suspended.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings.

rlhe cable 1 may be and preferably is of the conventional type employed for the mooring of a vessel to a wharf, quay or the like, and in furtherance of our invention a split sleeve 2, of circular form in cross-section is mounted and adapted to be moved ,endwise on the cable. The splitting of the sleeve is preferable because it admits of the sleeve being sprung on the cable at an intermediate point in the length thereof. Such splitting, however, is not essential inasmuch s as when conditions permit the sleeve can be slipped longitudinally on the end of the Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Dec. ML, 1915.

Serial No. 879,317.

in position. It will also be noted that the.

sleeve 2 is provided at 5 with exterior circumferential beads or ribs for a purpose hereinafter set forth- Suitably mounted on and revoluble about the sleeve 2 and between the beads 5 is the tubular body 6 of the revoluble element, which body may be-constructed and secured on the sleeve in any manner compatible with the purpose of our invention.

In addition to the said body 6 the revoluble element comprises a transverse plate 7, preferably of circular form in outline, and longitudinal tapered blades fixed to the body 6 and the plate or wall 7 and extending from said plate or wall to the ends of the body.

In pursuance of the scheme of our invention, the body 6, the plate or wall 7 and the blades 8 are made very smooth with a view to affording as little foot hold as possible to a rat who encounters the revoluble element in attempting to make a passage along the cable. It-will also be noticed that when a rat passes to the revoluble element and particularly when it attempts to climb ,over

i element, we provide a holder or trap 9. This trap 9 is suspended from the sleeve 2 through bail-shaped hangers 10, and while the said holder or trap may be of any construction compatible with its purpose, we prefer the construction illustrated because of its simplicity, inexpensiveness and efficiency. The said construction comprises a body 11 of the shape of an inverted cone, said bodv having an opening 12, controlled by a slidable door 13, and through which the caught rats may be removed to be destroyed. In its upper portion, the said body 11 is provided with an entrance 14; of the shape of a truncated cone, and the opening 15 at the lower end of the said entrance is controlled by a hinged trap door 16 backed by a spring 17 which has for its purpose to return the door to its closed position and to normally retain the door in said position.

The surface of the entrance 14 is polished or made smoothin any approved manner, and from this it follows that when a rat drops from-the -revoluble element described into the entrance 141, the rat will be caused to slide through the opening and past y the door 16 which will then immediately close and in that way preclude the escape of the rat from the lower portion ofthebody 11.-

holder or trap 11 is not ofthe essence ofcourinvention inasmuch as the combined revoluble element and trap or holder may be employed 1n conjunction with the upper Vedge of avfence or other narrow support,

the revoluble body of the revoluble element being in that case arranged flush with the edge of the fence or other narrow support.

Having described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters-Pat- I ent, is

1. The combination of a narrow support, and an element mounted on the'support and freely revoluble as a unit at right angles to the length thereof and having a body ex- Ik@tending longitudinally of the support and arranged flush with the upper edge thereof and also having a wall-extending laterally from and entirely around Ythe body, and longitudinal blades extending between said `Y `rvy|transverse wall and the end of the body and arranged at intervals entirely around the body.

2. The combination of a narrow support,

,man element mounted on the support and ltransverse wall extending entirely around and^ arranged at right angles to the body, andr longitudinal blades extending between said transverse wall and the end or' the body and arranged at intervals entirely around the body, and a pendent holder suspended from the body of the revoluble element and constructedand arranged to catch and retain rats precipitated from the revoluble element.

3. In means for the purpose described, a sleeve constructed and arranged to be mounted on a cable and having apertured lugs for the connection of cords through which it may be drawn on the cable and also having circumferential spaced ribs, and a revoluble element comprising a body surrounding said sleeve, an intermediate transverse wall carried by said body, and longitudinal blades also carried by said body and tapered from said wall toward the cnds ot the body.

L1. In means for the purpose described, a sleeve constructed and arranged to be mounted on a cable, and a revoluble element comprising a tubular body arranged on said sleeve, a transverse wall carried by said body, and longitudinal blades also carried by the body and tapered from said transverse wall toward the end of the body.

In testimony wherof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VVILLARD DUPLANTIS. CURTIS DU PLANTIS.

Witnesses:

R. G. Ens'rls, H. R. SIEGER.

Copiesiof thispatent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing -vthe Commissioner of 1atents,

. Washington, D. C. 

